An increasing awareness of our impact on the environment has led to many wanting to live more eco-friendly lives. ‘Green’ living, once dismissed as a passing trend, is here to stay. From switching to electric vehicles, to reducing what we send to landfill, we have become much more conscious of what we can do to help our planet.
Yet for all the positive changes many of us are making, there are still people who don’t yet have a full understanding of all the eco-friendly possibilities for their own home. From adding solar panels, to starting your very own kitchen garden, here we explore what sustainability features every eco-friendly house should look to include.
Energy-Efficient Lighting
LED lighting has come a long way since its inception. Gone are the days of people sacrificing the power of their lighting just to be kinder to the environment. Today, people can enjoy LED lighting that is just as powerful as traditional options – but with the added benefit of being a far more eco-friendly solution for homes.
How much more eco-friendly you ask? LED lighting uses around 70-80% less energy than your standard regular lightbulb, meaning reduced energy bills and a far more energy-efficient household overall. They also last much, much longer, which gives the added benefit of reducing your maintenance burden.
When it comes to energy-efficient lighting, you don’t have to scrimp on luxury. Those looking to add a touch of glamour to their homes have a number of elegant options available. Use sophisticate LED festoon lights to add a warm glow to your garden in the evening, perfect for outdoor socialising. Or incorporate bespoke, showstopping, LED crystal chandeliers to add some wow factor to your interiors.
Kitchen Garden
We’ve previously spoken about how every luxury home needs a beautiful garden, and part of the fun is choosing how to go about it. If you’re looking to make your home even more eco-friendly, why not design and plant an organic vegetable garden? Growing your own vegetables is extremely on-trend at the moment. Celebrities such as Jack Gyllenhall, Reese Witherspoon, Oprah and Michelle Obama are all keen gardeners, often seen proudly showing off their bounteous crops on social media.
Much like the name implies, a kitchen farm allows you to turn part of your garden into a thriving fruit and vegetable nursery – as seen at most of the UK’s grandest stately homes and estates. Plus, if you include elegant touches such as raised beds and trellising, it will be just as aesthetically pleasing as the rest of your landscaping. Imagine the satisfaction of eating (or gifting) your own lovingly grown organic produce, freshly picked and delicious, with zero food-miles on the clock.
Solar Panels
Often the first thing that springs to mind when people think of eco-friendly options for their home, solar panels have become a go-to for those looking to be more environmentally conscious when it comes to their energy usage.
Not only are solar panels able to tap into the wonderful renewable energy source that is solar energy, but they are also low maintenance, have a relatively long average lifespan of 20-25 years and help you drastically reduce your carbon footprint (and energy bills).
Solar panels can also add a degree of luxury design to your home, with many UV panels replacing traditional roof tiles for a more stylish look. And while some of the biggest players in the business, such as Tesla, are leading the way for solar panels, other exciting options include solar energy windows, which work by generating electricity through UV panels within your home’s windows.
Geothermal Heating
The colder months see many of us relying on our heating far more. Poor insulation and heating in a home means leaving it on higher settings for longer periods of time, wasting energy and increasing your impact on the planet. Installing efficient insulation is one answer, but a popular choice for eco-friendly homes is to invest in geothermal heating.
Geothermal heating works by tapping into the heat located underground, and using this amazing renewable energy resource to warm up your home. Using a heat pump, geothermal energy is collected into a compressor, which is then circulated around your home. Have your home as warm as you like it, without having to feel guilty about your energy usage and its effect on the planet.
Not only does geothermal heating use a renewable energy source, meaning energy bill savings of up to 65% compared to traditional heating methods, but the energy source is natural and available 24/7. It also requires minimal upkeep once installed.
Installing Your Own Well
When it comes to eco-friendly houses, opting to have your very own water source is an excellent option to consider. While it does require a degree of planning and landscaping, installing your own well in your garden could be one of the most eco-friendly additions you could make to your home.
Having your own well naturally means access to fresh water whenever you need it, with far less reliance on your tap water. With lower water bills and a reliable and renewable source of water on your property, it’s self-sufficiency at its best. Plus it makes a great talking point with guests.
Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly With Aspire
With more and more of us looking for ways to make our homes more eco-friendly, at Aspire we pride ourselves on helping our clients create unique and breathtaking eco-friendly properties built to the highest sustainability standards – that are designed to stand the test of time.
For more information, browse our list of services, or contact a member of our experienced team today.
